Mitchell Starc's availability adds to Delhi's strength but not without selection stress

After being retained by Delhi Capitals (DC) for INR 11.75 crore ahead of the 2026 IPL season, Mitchell Starc missed the first half of the campaign due to knee and shoulder injuries sustained during a demanding Australian summer. 

His Ashes heroics, where he claimed 31 wickets at an average of 19.93 and was named Player of the Series, and his stint with Sydney Sixers in the BBL, underline his pedigree. Now cleared by Cricket Australia and back in training with DC, Starc is primed to feature in Match 43 against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.

Who will Mitchell Starc replace in DC's playing XI?

The bigger question is who he will replace in Delhi’s playing XI. Starc is likely to come in place of either Kyle Jamieson or Dushmantha Chameera. If Delhi want a longer tail and bat deep, then Starc will come in for Chameera, as Jamieson’s presence extends their batting prowess. 

Oh, how we have waited for this! 😍🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ydiw4wNoOg

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 30, 2026

But if Delhi want two express pace bowlers, then Jamieson will miss out, and Starc will share the new ball alongside Chameera, who consistently clocks speeds above 140 kmph.

Has Prithvi Shaw fallen way behind the pecking order?

Prithvi Shaw has long been known as a dangerous opener, capable of giving his team flashy starts in the powerplay by exploiting field restrictions. Yet, Delhi chose to play Maharashtra U19 top‑order bat Sahil Parakh in their last game against RCB. Parakh, making his IPL debut, had no first‑class or List‑A experience and was playing only his third T20 match.

This decision begs the question: with Shaw already in the squad, why are Delhi not turning to him? Has he fallen so far behind in the pecking order that an untested teenager is preferred over his proven ability to set the tone at the top?

Have Delhi written Ashutosh Sharma off already?

Ashutosh Sharma was one of Delhi’s standout performers in the previous season, aggregating 204 runs in 13 games at a strike rate of 160.62. He won matches coming lower down the order and merited consistent opportunities this season. Yet, by April 30, he had featured in only two games.

His first outing this season came against CSK on April 11, when he entered at five down with Delhi needing 92 off 46 while chasing 213. He struck a 10‑ball 19 at a strike rate of 190, but the team lost by 23 runs.

His second appearance was against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 21, where Delhi faced a daunting chase of 243. Coming in at seven, he was tasked with an improbable 77 off 25 balls. He managed 14 off 10 before perishing while trying to go big.

Both situations were nerve‑wracking and stacked against him. Judging Delhi’s ace finisher solely on these moments seems unfair, especially given his performances last season that even prompted then‑mentor Kevin Pietersen to remark, "...game isn’t over until Ashutosh is batting."

Starc’s arrival is undeniably a boost for Delhi Capitals, but it comes with a selection headache. Meanwhile, Delhi have a few more uncomfortable questions to answer: has Prithvi Shaw slipped too far down the order, and is Ashutosh Sharma being unfairly sidelined? 

As Delhi prepare to face Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur, the answers to these questions will shape not just their XI, but the fate of their season as the race to the playoffs heats up.